described as Globaria Lauterbachii (Bovista Lauterbachii), but I have 

 compared the type specimen with the type of Bovistella aspera at 

 Paris, and find them to be the same. Lycoperdon citrium, Ceylon, is 

 a similar plant. Lycoperdon hongkongense, China, of which no type 

 exists, is described as having elliptical spores, but otherwise it is evi- 

 dently very close. 



SPECIMENS IN OUR COLLECTION. 

 Australia. W. W. Watts. 



BOVISTELLA ECHINELLA (Plate 89). Peridium very small, 

 dark, reddish brown, globose, opening by a definite mouth. Cortex 

 minute tufted spines, arranged in subdistant patches over the peridium. 

 When old drying down, usually persistent (rarely falling away). Ster- 

 ile base none. Gleba olive brown. Capillitium of long, branched, in- 

 tertwined threads, attached to the peridium in young specimens, but 

 separating in old, and becoming curled and matted. Spores globose, 

 smooth, 4-5 mic. with pedicels 10 mic. 



This unique little species enjoys the distinction of being the small- 

 est "puff ball" known. Rarely is it more than a half cm. in diameter. 

 Originally described from Ecuador as Bovista echinella, it is of wide 

 distribution and has reached me from six collectors and from five dif- 

 ferent countries. All the collections that I have are from widely sepal 

 rated localities, and it is everywhere a rare plant. It usually grows on 

 semi-naked ground in collection with a little moss.f 



I notice a slight variation in the spores, varying from 4 to 6 mic. J 

 and the pedicels from 6 to 12 mic., in specimens from widely different 

 localities, but I do not feel that this variation is more than could be 

 expected. 



SPECIMENS IN OUR COLLECTION. 



Ecuador, type from herb, Patouillard. 



Jamaica, W. Jekyll. 



Mexico, J. N. Rose. 



Michigan, B. O. Longyear ; Washington, W. N. Suksdorl. 



Europe, Denmark, Rev. A. Breitung. 



The preceding species of this section have smooth spores. The two following 

 have spores that are not smooth. 



BOVISTELLA DAVISII (Plate 89). Peridium subglobose, 

 flaccid. Cortex very minute, fasciculate spines (like the usual piriform 

 cortex). Sterile base none. Gleba olive. Capillitium of pale colored, 

 long, branched threads. Spores globose, minutely rough, 4-5 mic. with 

 slender pedicels 10-14 m i c - 



This is a very rare species and has reached me but twice, both 

 from Massachusetts. I name it for Simon Davis, of Boston, who has 

 collected for many years very abundantly for our museum. 



t Funaria hygrometrica. Thanks to Monsieur F. Camus for the name. 

 286 



